I think it is good Mary McKillop has been effectively made a saint. While I disagree on the issue of miracles (I find the notion of God arbitrarily interfering with the natural order problematic) given the contributions of the Church to Australia from the beginning of the nation by many good and sincere Catholics, recognition of ‘saints’ is well overdue. I think though her sainthood should be recognised not because of alleged miracles but by her exemplary life of charity and good works, including her remarkable efforts to educate and to help the needy and poor of Australia in the face of trenchant opposition from the status quo, both secular and religious, of her time. Her courage to persevere in her role, often as a despised ‘no-body’ in a time when the church and society had a low view of women and excluded them from ecclesiastical and secular power and institutions, and against the callous tendency of society to let the poor and marginalised rot in their miserable station in life, should stand as a good example as how saintly Christians can manifest justice, compassion and also prophetic critique of both the church and society when required.